Like Us
Follow Us
Gorman leaving Milwaukee to work for Mantuano in Chicago
Chef Jason Gorman is leaving Milwaukee to work with Kenosha native Tony Mantuano as executive chef at the Art Institute of Chicago. Mantuano is best known for his Spiaggia restaurant in Chicago.
The food operations at the museum are managed by Bon Appetit, a California based company.
Gorman, a Chicago native who came to prominence in Milwaukee with the launch of Dream Dance at Potawatomi Bingo Casino, before moving on to a position at The Iron Horse Hotel last fall, has been cooking in recent months for Peter Sandroni at La Merenda in Walker's Point, while searching for a suitable space for a new restaurant of his own.
"About a month and a half ago Tony Mantuano called me up and offered me the job at the Art Institute," says Gorman.
"Peter (Sandroni, La Merenda owner) has been great. He's been helping me out and I could have stayed there forever if I wanted to, but this was too good an opportunity to pass up."
Though he's been away from the Windy City for 29 years, the return will mark a homecoming for Gorman, whose mother still lives in Chicago. And the Art Institute location has special significance for Gorman and his mom, too.
"My mom was an art history student at the Art Institute (school)," says Gorman. "When I was about 4 years old she took me down there to show me the Monets. She'd been telling me all about the Claude Monets. When we got there it was packed and we couldn't get into the room. I don't remember this, but my mom said I started shouting, 'I want to see Claude! I want to see Claude.'
"I guess I'm going to get to see Claude."
In his new position, Gorman will run the dining operations on the first floor of the Art Institute and for all the events in the building. He's excited that Bon Appetit is committed to sourcing at least 20 percent of its ingredients locally.
Mantuano also has a separate restaurant, Terzo Piano, on the third floor of the museum's Modern Wing. Gorman will not work at Terzo Piano.
Friday will mark Gorman's final night in the kitchen at La Merenda and he begins his new job on Sept. 10. He'll commute for a few weeks before moving his family to Chicago.
Permalink
Print
Talkbacks (2)
Share this: 
Talkbacks
j.bonlender1 | Aug. 30, 2012 at 11:33 a.m. (report)
A sad day for Milwaukee.
| Rate this: |
 |
2 comments about this article. Post your comment/review now |
Facebook comments
Disclaimer: Please note that Facebook comments are posted through Facebook and cannot be approved, edited or declined by OnMilwaukee.com. The opinions expressed in Facebook comments do not necessarily reflect those of OnMilwaukee.com or its staff.
Recent Articles & Blogs by Bobby Tanzilo
"30 Americans" balances nuanced and provocative
Published June 18, 2013
As part of its all-year celebration of American art, MAM opened "30 Americans," a survey of African-American contemporary art drawn from the Rubell Family Collection. The show has a wide variety of work, from the nuanced to the impactful.
Iron Block loses its scaffolding
Published June 17, 2013
After years of seeing the historic Iron Block building on Water and Wisconsin clothed in stark white paint - and most recently - hidden behind scaffolding - it's nice to see a subtler tone and a copper brown on the storefront and mezzanine levels.
Three square "meals" at the Haggerty
Published June 14, 2013
At the Haggerty Museum of Art on the Marquette University campus, which runs a number of shows concurrently, the exhibitions are digestible and varied. You can get your arms around them and really focus and imbibe. At the moment, there are four shows on view, three of which opened together last week and all of which close on July 28.
Catching up with Wake Owl
Published June 13, 2013
When Colyn Cameron and his band Wake Owl made their Milwaukee debut at the Cactus Club back in February, the debut EP, "Wild Country," had just been released. Now, the band is back for a $10 show in The Pabst Pub and we caught up with Cameron to see how things have changed for the band.
Urban spelunking: Behind the scenes at Turner Hall
Published June 12, 2013
If you only visit Turner Hall, 1034 N. 4th St., for concerts, it's easy in the dark of night and the dimly lit concert experience to miss the beauty of the building itself. Built in 1882 and opened in 1883, the gorgeous romanesque revival Cream City brick clubhouse was designed by Henry C. Koch - who designed Milwaukee's City Hall - for the Milwaukee Turners.
Prepping for 130th anniversary, 8th Street School becomes a birthday cake
Published June 11, 2013
As it nears its 130th birthday, Eighth Street School on the corner of 8th and Michigan in Downtown Milwaukee, is getting a makeover.
The return of the Iron Block
Published June 10, 2013
Milwaukee's iconic Iron Block Building, on the corner of Water and Wisconsin, will be re-christened on Monday, June 17.
Gothic Milwaukee: 10 great buildings
Published June 9, 2013
One could expend a lot of verbiage on Gothic churches here, so to make sure this list of 10 great Gothic buildings in Milwaukee doesn't become a list of 10 Gothic churches in Milwaukee, I've limited myself to one house of worship. You may or may not agree about these buildings being the best examples of Gothic architecture in Milwaukee but you can't deny they are all landmarks and lovely ones at that.
World-class AGS collection puts Milwaukee on the map
Published June 6, 2013
Call it the worst-kept secret or the best-kept secret - depending on your point of view - but the American Geographical Society Library at UW-Milwaukee's Golda Meir Library is one of the best geography resources in the country. The collection holds more than a million items, ranging from maps and atlases to pamphlets and journals, globes and photographs of all kinds. Though it is housed in Milwaukee, the AGS collection has roots in New York and covers the entire planet.
Urban spelunking: Historic Miller Caves excavate new role
Published June 5, 2013
The Miller Caves, which are a featured part of the Miller Brewery tours, were excavated in 1850, making them nearly as old as the city itself. This cool, historic subterranean space is alive again with beer dinners and, now, as a concert venue.
